Melville, William John (William)
Private
No. 26726, 10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 34)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 4 D and 5 B)
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
Shore Street Presbyterian Church Donaghadee
Donaghadee Blue Banner Total Abstinence LOL 781 Memorial Plaque
Family grave headstone in Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Graveyard
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Melvin.
William John Melville was born on 4 May 1882 in Killaughey, he was baptised in Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Church and he was a son of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Melville who worked as a domestic servant.
Lizzie and William John lived in the townlands of Ballycross and Killaughey, Donaghadee
In 1901 William John Melville (aged 18) was working as an apprentice house painter.
William Melville and Sarah Campbell were married on 9 June 1910 in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church. William John declared that he was a son of James Melville, a labourer. Sarah Campbell from Donaghadee was a daughter of Hugh Campbell, a farmer.
William John and Sarah Melville (nee Campbell) had at least two children:
Hugh Campbell (born 18 December 1910 in Carryreagh)
Nancy (born 7 November 1914 in Carryreagh)
Both of these children were baptised in Shore Street Presbyterian Church Donaghadee.
William Melville enlisted in Donaghadee, served with the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 109th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was 34 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Private William John Melville (No. 26726) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Donaghadee and District War Memorial; in Shore Street Presbyterian Church Donaghadee; on the Donaghadee Blue Banner Total Abstinence LOL 781 Memorial Plaque and on the family grave headstone in Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Graveyard.